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Three Things to Know about the Tulsa Golden Hurricane

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The Pokes kickoff the 2017 season against a local-Group of Five foe, the Tulsa Hurricane.

Slow Your Roll

This offense is going through a bit of what Oklahoma State will in 2018: An all-time great QB/WR duo is out the door but the guts of a prolific running game will remain.

Defenses love to take away what an offense does best – and Tulsa is likely a run-to-open-up-the-pass team in 2017. With the core of an experienced offensive line returning and one of two thousand yard-rushers back in the fold, look for the Hurricane to lean heavily on the ground game.

Player to watch: RB D’Angelo Brewer. The senior and Tulsa Central alumnus is the lone returnee of Tulsa’s 1,000-yard rushers and receivers last season. He ran for 1,435 yards on 5.4 yards per carry, and has much of the same offensive line in front of him again. [TulsaWorld]

Not only is the running game the strength, but the passing game is a complete unknown. The school’s all-time leading passer Dane Evans is off to a three-year contract flying with the Eagles and 1,000-yard receivers Keevan Lucas and Josh Atkinson are gone.

Left to fill the void is heralded recruit Chad President (turned down offers from Baylor and Texas) and the stronger armed redshirt freshman Luke Skipper — who apparently turned down a chance to talk turkey with the good guys.

“I had a few schools contact me,” Skipper said. “Oklahoma State talked to me and wanted me to visit, but I don’t know about that yet. Other than them, not really (anyone else).” [TulsaWorld]

While Thomas has done a far better job than I at outlining the TU offense, the TU offensive personnel isn’t built to expose the young corners in Stillwater just yet.

Blind Side Test

Sporting a pair of senior defensive ends capable of bringing some pressure, TU could give OSU’s newest lineman a check up on how well he’s learning the system.

Jesse Brubaker had 13.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks to go with a pair of interceptions – he’s looked at as a potential defensive player of the year in the AAC. Senior end/linebacker Petera Wilson returns after leading the team with 6.5 sacks last season.

Three quality defensive ends will be a solid test for an OSU line that’s struggled protecting their prized thrower over the past few years. After finishing tied-for-last in sacks allowed in 2016 and 2014, keeping Mason Rudolph clean would be an encouraging early sign.

My guess is by the time they get around this guy, the throw will be long gone.

The Moving Target

Apparently, this game has been a bear to get pinned down.

Tulsa’s game at Oklahoma State was 11 years – and three date changes – in the making. It was set up under a three-game contract made in May 2006 that also included the terms of four-game men’s basketball series. Initially set to have been played in 2012, it was moved to 2016, then to this year. Finally, this past May, it was moved from Sept. 2 to Aug. 31 for TV purposes. [USA Today]

What a mess. For a frame of reference – J.W. Walsh was a freshman the year this game was first to be played.

Side note: J.W. Walsh had an offer from K-State – can you imagine what Bill Snyder could have done with him?

For good measure, here’s TU beating the tires off of Central Michigan at the Miami Beach Bowl.

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